Alteration of electroretinographic recordings when performed under sedation or halogenate anesthesia in a pediatric population

Fran the effects of sedation and of halogenate anesthesia on electroretinographic recordings were investigated by reviewing the hospital charts of 27 patients who were eventually diagnosed free of retinal disease. The same ERG protocol was performed in conscious (n=9), sedated (chloral hydrate or pentobarbital sodium, n=9) and anesthetized (halothane or isoflurane, in combination with N₂0, n=9) young patients. Sedation decreased the a- and b-wave amplitude of the scotopic bright-flash response, without affecting implicit times. ERG recordings performed in photopic conditions showed minimal disturbances. Anesthesia spared the a-wave of the scotopic bright-flash response but decreased more severely the b-wave. In addition, anesthesia reduced the amplitude and prolonged the implicit time of the photopic responses, affecting predominantly the ionotropic glutamate dependent OFF components (peak of b-wave, 0P4 and 0P5). The normal retinal physiology is affected by sedation and anesthesia through different mechanisms that still remain to be fully elucidated. These alterations in electroretinographic recordings must be considered when evaluating ERGs obtained under similar sedation/anesthetized conditions.